Trolley and current collector means



March 19, 1940. H. J. L. FRANK ET AL 2,193,961

TROLLEY AND CURRENT COLLECTOR MEANS Original Filed Aug. 26, 1935 ml 132131 13,2 12g fiHi 4 iZOJNSl/ZATION JIM/4; l Z T 135 By M A la /g AATTORNEY.

Patented Ma. 19, 1940 UNITED STATES I 2,193,961 PATENT OFFICE TROLLEYAND CURRENT COLLECTOR MEANS Harrison J. L. Frank and Joseph A. Messing,Detroit, Mich.

4 Claims.

This invention relates to current collector means particularly adaptedfor use in connection with the stationary bus duct of a currentdistributing system such as the one previously disclosed in Patent No.2,018,846 of October 29, 1935. The instant application is a division ofour prior application Serial No. 37,953 filed August 26. 1935, nowPatent No. 2,117,552 of May 1'7, 1938, which in turn is a division ofapplications Serial No. 727,516 filed May 25,1934, now Patent No.2,018,016 of October 22, 1935, and Serial No. 20,113 filed May 6, 1935,now Patent No. 2,052,972 of September 1, 1936.

The instant application relates specifically to collector means forwithdrawing current from slotted tube bus duct.

The principal objects of the present invention are to provide collectormeans which shall be of light weight and small size and which have ahigh degree of economy of manufacture and efficiency of operation.

Objects of the invention, which relate more distinctly to novel andimportant details of manufacture of the collector means shown anddescribed herein, will be readily apparent upon reference to thefollowing detailed descriptive matter relating to the appended drawing.

Referring to the drawing, it will be seen that- Fig. 1 shows in top planview a plug collector;

Fig. 2 is a side elevational view of the same;

Figs. 3 and 4 are end elevational views of the same as if taken fromplanes 3-3 and 4-4 respectively of Fig. 1.

In the figures there is shown a plug collector which is moreparticularly adapted for stationary use with a duct and is not normallyintended to be moved along the duct as is the case with a trolley typecollector. In this construction, the collector includes an elongatedinsulating base I20 having fuse clips I2I thereon, between pairs ofwhich are disposed cartridge fuses I22. Connected to the pairs of thoseclips are two end brushes I23 and a center brush I24, the end brushesI23 being formed to engage the bus bars of the vertical sides of theduct and the center brush I24 being formed to engage the bus bar on thehorizontal side or top of the duct, the center brush I24 projecting aconsiderable distance above the remaining parts of the collector. Thebase is supported by the vertical parts I26 of two frame plates I21between which parts I26 it is disposed, and these frame plates areflanged downwardly at their edges, as indicated at I28. It is observedthat the construction is such that the base I20 is diagonally disposedwith respect to the frame plates as a whole, for reasons to bedescribed, and that the edges of the frame plates, at the corners mostremote from the base, are provided with upwardly projecting verticalstops I29, also for reasons to be described. The parts I26 of theplates, diagonally remote from the stops I29, have elongated notchesI30, also for reasons to be described.

Further, secured to and disposed under the under surface of the frameplates are small plates .I3-I having upwardly projecting parts I32 whichare thus rendered resiliently mounted with respect to the frame plates.The frame plates as a whole are rigidly secured to a block I33 in turnrigidly secured to the endof a handle I34. Conductors I35, connected tothe pairs of fuseclips I2I in proper fashion, pass downwardly throughthe space between the vertical parts I26 of the Ill frame plate and downthrough the bore of the 20 When the collector is to be inserted into aduct, the base I20 and parts I2I, I22, I23, and I24, thereon, areinserted into the opening in the bottom of the duct; the frame platesI21 will then be somewhat askew of the duct. The collector will not yetbe interlocked to the duct because of the fact that all of the parts ofthe collector, in the duct, are in line with the opening. The collectoris then rotated a few degrees so that the base will be askew of the ductand will straddle the opening thereof, to interlock the 'collector tothe duct. Elongated slots I30 in the vertical portions I26 of the frameplates I21 permit rotation of the collector as a whole with respect tothe duct, the duct flanges being cleared through these slots. 7

After such rotation, the resilient brush I24, engaging the bottom of theupper bus bar, will bias the collector against the upper edges of theflanges at the bottom opening of the duct, with the frame plates in linewith the duct. Stops I29 limit the degree of rotation of the collectoras a whole with respect to the duct, upon insertion, to prevent injuryto the brushes I23. After rotation is accomplished, the brushes I23 onthe base will engage the side bus bars for proper contact, and withbrush I24, already in engagement with the top bus bar, will complete theelectrical connections desired.

For removal of the collector, it is necessary to rotate the collectorback to its pre-insertion position, whereupon the collector may belowered out of the duct.

It is noted that collectors of Figs. 1-4 are in the nature of removablewall or closure plates for parts of the open bottom of the duct, andthat they carry the fuses I22 inside the duct; they thus cooperate withthe duct to form an enclosed conduit inside which are provided andenclosed the fuses, these being on what might well be termed removablewall portions (the collectors) for the duct. Also, since the collectorsmust be removed from the duct before the fuses can be manipulated, anautomatic interlock, to prevent manipulation of live fuses, is effected.

We claim:

1. A detachable connector for use with a duct having a slotted wall onwhose sides are bus bars comprising a handle having a base and a head,the latter being insertable into the duct through the slot and havingcontacts engaging the side bus bars of the duct when inserted into theduct and rotated therein to straddle the slot, the base remainingoutside the duct and engaging the slotted wall so that the latter isclamped between the head and the base.

2. A detachable connector for use with a duct having a slotted wall onwhose sides are bus bars comprising a handle having a base and a head,the latter being insertable into the duct through the slot and havingcontacts engaging the side bus bars of the duct when inserted into theduct and rotated therein to straddle the slot, the base remainingoutside the duct and engaging the slotted wall so that the latter isclamped between the head and the base, and fuses on the head anddisposed within the duct.

3. A detachable connector for use with a duct having a slotted wall onwhose sides are bus "bars comprising a handle having a base and a head,the latter being insertable into the duct through the slot and havingcontacts engaging the side bus bars of the duct when inserted into theduct and rotated therein to straddle the slot, the base remainingoutside the duct and engaging the slotted wall so that the latter isclamped between the head and the base, the collector forming a removableclosure for that part of the slot of the duct near which are contacts.

4. A detachable connector for use with a duct having a slotted wall onwhose sides are bus bars comprising a handle having a base and a head,the latter being insertable into the duct through the slot and havingcontacts engaging the side bus bars of the duct when inserted into theduct and rotated therein to straddle the slot, the base remainingoutside the duct and engaging the slotted wall so that the latter isclamped between the head and the base, the collector forming a removableclosure for that part of the slot of the duct near which are contacts,and fuses on the head and disposed within the duct.

HARRISON J. L. FRANK. JOSEPH A. MESSING.

